آج کی دنیا میں اسمبلیوں، کونسلوں، میونسپل وارڈوں اور دوسری مجالس اورجماعتوں کے انتخابات میں جمہوریت کے نام پر جو کھیل کھیلا جا رہا ہے کہ زور و زر اور غنڈا گردی کے سارے طاغوتی وسائل کا استعمال کرکے یہ چند روزہ موہوم اعزازا حاصل کیا جاتا ہے اور اس کے عالم سوز نتائج ہروقت آنکھوں کے سامنے ہیں اور ملک و ملّت کے ہمدرد و سمجھ دار انسان اپنے مقدور بھر اس کی اصلاح کی فکر میں بھی ہیں،لیکن عام طور پر اس کو ایک ہارجیت کا کھیل اور خالص دنیاوی دھندا سمجھ کر ووٹ لیے اور دیے جاتے ہیں۔ لکھے پڑھے دین دار مسلمانوں کو بھی اس طرف توجہ نہیں ہوتی کہ یہ کھیل صرف ہماری دنیا کے نفع نقصان اور آبادی یا بربادی تک نہیں رہتا بلکہ اس کے پیچھے کچھ طاعت و معصیت اور گناہ و ثواب بھی ہے جس کے اثرات اس دنیا کے بعد بھی یا ہمارے گلے کا ہار عذابِ جہنم بنیں گے، یا پھر درجاتِ جنت اور نجاتِ آخرت کا سبب بنیں گے۔
Shariah Status of a Vote
In Sharia, our vote has three statuses: (1) testimony, (2) recommendation, (3) advocacy in common rights. In the three positions, just as voting for a virtuous, righteous, capable person is a cause of great reward and its fruits are to be received by him, in the same way, voting for an incompetent or disobedient person is also false testimony and bad advice and illegal advocacy. Its devastating effects will also be recorded in his book of deeds.
It is forbidden to hide testimony, and it is also forbidden to lie, and it is also forbidden to take any compensation for it. Considering voting in elections just a play to win or lose is a big mistake.
Once we vote for a particular candidate, we are in fact testifying that this person is qualified for the job and better than other candidates for the job for which these elections are being held in terms of his ideology, knowledge, practice and integrity. Given this fact, it leads to the following results:
1. Through your vote and testimony, the representative who will reach an Assembly, the responsibility for the good or bad actions he will undertake in this regard will also fall on you and you will also share in its reward or punishment. (see Quran 4:85, 4:135, 2:283)
2. It is important to keep in mind that even if a mistake is made in personal matters, its effect is personal and limited, and the reward and punishment are also limited. Even a small loss sometimes becomes the cause of the destruction of the entire nation, so its reward and punishment are also great.
3. Hiding the true testimony is prohibited by the Qur'an. (see 5:8) If there is an honest representative contesting in your constituency, it is a great sin to fail to vote for him.
4. Voting for a candidate who has an ideology against the Islamic system is a false testimony which is a major sin.
5. Giving votes in exchange for money (horse trading) is the worst form of bribery and rebellion against Islam and the country for the sake of a few bucks. Sacrificing one's religion in order to beautify the world of others, no matter how much wealth is given in exchange, cannot be a wise decision. The Messengerﷺ of Allah, said, "The biggest loser is a person who loses his Deen for Dunya (worldly gains) of other."
(Translated from Article by; Molana Muhammad Shafi (Allah may bless the late, first Mufti Azam Pakistan)
